A bench and a chair in A Dream of Red Mansions tells what kind of musical instrument culture it carries.

The interesting thing about A Dream of Red Mansions is that it seems to tell a story, but it gives a clear account of the surrounding artifacts between stories. Cao Gong's seemingly casual description gives special meaning to the things appearing in A Dream of Red Mansions, just like a simple stool and chair. Although they are small, they are indispensable at home.

There are roughly three states in a person's life, one lying, two standing and three sitting, among which sitting accounts for a large proportion, so it is particularly important as a chair and stool, which also carries the furniture culture for thousands of years since ancient times.

From "sitting on the floor" to "sitting with your feet down", stools and chairs did not become popular until the Song Dynasty. In ancient times, people did not have the habit of making stools or chairs, because the ability to build houses was limited at that time, and the houses built were relatively low and narrow, so people sat on the floor.

Sitting on the ground

From Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties to Qin and Han dynasties, this sitting posture has not changed. At that time, people's sitting posture was generally "kneeling", that is, their legs were kneeling on the ground, their calves were flat on the ground, and their hips were sitting on their heels, but if they knelt for a long time, their legs would be numb. Therefore, there is a "relying on the minority" that can be slightly tilted. With it, the sitting posture is much more comfortable than before.

Sit with your feet down

It was not until the Han Dynasty that there were stools, but at that time stools were not used for sitting, but only used as pedals, that is, stepping on stools to climb on horses or climb up and down to get things.

It was not until the Tang Dynasty that stools really played a role, and people's sitting posture finally changed from "sitting on the floor" to "sitting with their feet down".

Chairs appeared in the period of Emperor Ling of Han Dynasty, but it was not until the Song Dynasty that chairs really became a popular seating tool. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the shape of chairs mainly changed into armchairs and armchairs. Since then, stools and chairs have really become popular and common in people's lives.

Stools: As a very important kind of furniture, high-sitting, low-standing and small stools have many forms of presentation in Jiafu, and their exquisiteness can be seen everywhere. The reason why stools appear many times is that they are practical and people of all identities can sit on them.

Badminton is a bench in Xiao Mu. This kind of stool is very common in Jiafu, because it is easy to move and practical, and can be seen in many scenes.

When xiren went to visit her sick Wang Xifeng, Pinger asked someone to take a chair for xiren to sit on. When Mrs. Wang was taking care of the Jia family and their wives for dinner, the Jia family authorized Mrs. Wang to sit in a chair and let Wang Xifeng and Li Wan come.

Jia Mu took everyone to celebrate Wang Xifeng's birthday.

Jia Mu and everyone are going to raise money for Wang Xifeng's birthday. Some servants of the Jia family who have served their elders are more valuable than the young master. For example, Mammy Lai and Wang Xifeng can only stand, but they can sit in small chairs and take part in large-scale activities.

Embroidered pier, a drum-like stool, is a more advanced stool than a small shuttlecock. This kind of stool is generally round, the middle part will be fatter, and the upper and lower parts will be smaller. Because there are usually some silk cushions on the stool, it is called embroidered pier. In the Qing Dynasty, women often used embroidered piers. In Twelve Beautiful Women in Yongzheng, four of the twelve beautiful women sat on the embroidered pier.

In the "Chrysanthemum Poetry Society" organized by Xiangyun and Baochai, Daiyu didn't drink much or eat crabs, so she asked someone to take an embroidered pier and sit on the railing to fish. The life of Miss Daiyu and others, whether sitting on a stool or playing, is full of elegance.

Embroidered piers are often placed next to the bed, which is more convenient for two people to talk together. Once, xiren was embroidering a Chinese-style chest covering for Baoyu, and Baoyu was taking a nap. Aroma said that she was tired from embroidery for a long time and went out for a walk. Baochai sat on the embroidered pier and embroidered a Chinese-style chest covering for Baoyu. Baochai's love for Baoyu was reflected here. It's just that Baoyu refused the "golden marriage" in his dream, which hurt Baochai.

Pedal, also known as footstool, is the shortest stool, one level lower than badminton. Such a small stool is usually placed in front of the bed, under the edge of the kang or in front of the chair, and is used to wash feet and cushion feet when going to bed or sitting on the bed to talk.

Trampoline is a small stool that ordinary girls can sit on, but trampoline, a girl who obeys the rules like Baochai's maid Yingying, is afraid to sit. Once, Mrs. Wang asked Yuchuan and Yingying to send Baoyu lotus leaf soup together. Yuchuan came to Hongyi Garden and sat on the pestle, but Yingying didn't dare to sit, so Aaron brought her a pedal and she sat down safely.

On another occasion, Li Wan and Baochai were discussing things in the hall. Pinger, Wang Xifeng's assistant, listened. When she saw him coming, Tanchun told him to sit on the pedal. Generally, girls are standing, so they are not qualified to sit. Therefore, it is not disrespectful to let Pinger sit on the pedal here, but a very respectful behavior.

Big bench, also called door stool. A large family is placed on the stools of the concierge, so that guests waiting at home have a place to sit down and rest. Jia's big bench is also made of precious Huang Huali wood, and Jia's slaves sit on it in violation of regulations, showing the appearance of aristocratic slaves. Grandma Liu saw this scene the first time she went to Jia's house, and the attendants at the door deliberately teased Grandma Liu, so Jia's servants were sometimes too unruly.

Rattan drawer spring stool This is a bench made of rattan skin. This is a wide bench where you can sit and lie. You can put it under the tree as a cool bed in spring. Baoyu was beaten by Jia Zheng and couldn't walk, so Wang Xifeng asked someone to carry him back with this stool.

This stool is actually similar to a bed for enjoying the cool. There is one in Yuan's yard. Once Qingwen lay there enjoying the cool. Later, Baoyu came back and told her about the quarrel with her at noon. Later, the two of them also sat on the spring stool and tore the fan to play together.

Chairs: There are many kinds of chairs. Not every chair can sit casually. The weight of the chair is higher than that of the stool, and the chair appears later than the stool. It seems that the chair only has an armrest, but there are many rules. Not every chair can sit casually.

A chair with a top chair and a bottom chair crossed. Its bottom is similar to a chair, with a pony and a circle of handrails. The first place was originally evolved from the folding chairs of northern ethnic minorities.

The obvious appearance of the top spot was at the time of Jia family's ancestor worship. At that time, the top position was set around the ancestral hall, and then everyone could complete the ceremony by themselves and then return to their seats in order of age and age. The setting of the top chair is serious, so this kind of chair is very particular about specifications.

There is also an interesting allusion about the top of the list, "Who is the first?". The top is given a unique position because it was carried in ancient marching and hunting. At that time, only emperors and senior generals could use it, so the top spot became a symbol of power.

Round chair, that is, round chair. It is named after the backrest and armrest are connected into a circle. This kind of chair is rare, only the Jia family has it. When Daiyu first entered Jia Fu, Grandmother Jia was sitting in an armchair waiting for Daiyu to come.

Rose chair, also known as "Wen chair". This is a small chair suitable for girls to study. Daiyu's Xiaoxiang Pavilion is arranged like a study, so it is very suitable for this kind of rose chair. Daiyu usually likes to read and write poems here. When Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Jia went to Xiaoxiang Pavilion together, Daiyu asked the maid to bring the rose chair she often made for Mrs. Wang, which was a great respect for Mrs. Wang.

A plush chair with a round-backed chair with a lotus leaf on the top. I am familiar with this name, because it will be mentioned in TV series. This kind of chair is very atmospheric, so it will highlight the owner's position at home. It is a flashy chair.

The origin of the plush chair is also related to the villain Qin Gui and his flatterer Wu Yuan. Ancient people like to wear headscarves. Qin Gui accidentally dropped his headscarf while sitting in a chair, so Wu Yuan invented this chair with lotus leaves to support his head, which is similar to the backrest and headrest. At that time, people thought that Qin Gui was a plush chair, so this chair was called "plush chair".

The "plush chair" in Jiafu first appeared in the rooms of Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang. Because they are in charge of Jia's house, they usually need to receive guests who visit Jia's house, so there will be a plush chair in their room.

When Daiyu first entered the Jia family, Mrs. Wang tried her. As soon as Mrs. Wang came, she let Daiyu sit in Jia Zheng's position. Daiyu decided that she wouldn't do it, so she just sat in the chair. Later, Mrs. Wang knew that Daiyu had passed the exam, and her mind was really bad, so she took Daiyu and sat on the kang together.

Painted chair is a kind of painted wooden backrest chair. Because Qi Diao is a "three-in-one" skill of making paint, painting and carving, the production of a lacquerware product has to go through eight major processes and dozens of small processes. So this kind of chair is a very precious and exquisite chair.

In Ningfu, this kind of chair was taken out for use, because the ancestral hall of Jiafu was located in Ningguo, and You was the hostess. When all the people in the Jia family come back on the day of ancestor worship, You Shi will take out the best chairs and greet everyone to sit down.

A stool and a chair are no more than one square inch, but they are symbols of status and status. Stools and chairs are just small things that are matched with furniture, but they highlight the differences in people's status and positions by virtue of their square space, because there are rules everywhere in the family, not deliberately showing off, but rules have long been established and deeply rooted in people's hearts. A stool and a chair have a very clear embodiment.

Whether to sit on a stool or a chair depends on the identity of the seat used when the stools and machines in Jiafu Middle School are ordinary and there are few people or activities. This is easy to understand. When xiren went to see the sick Wang Xifeng, she was sitting on a stool, and Yuchuan was sitting on a stool in Yee Hong Yuan.

Yinger didn't dare to sit, so she had to sit standing. Ping-erh and Tan-chun are also sitting when they formally handle their work together. When Zhao DOG, Jia Lian's wet nurse, came to beg Jia Lian to keep her for dinner, she was afraid to go to the table for dinner. She just stood and set the food with a pestle.

Only the host and guests can sit in the chair. This is the rule. Girls can sit in chairs naturally, but they can't sit in formal occasions. In addition to stools and chairs, it is also a sign of being close to guests and respecting others to let guests sit on the kang with their hosts.

You need to receive guests with different chairs on different occasions. Chairs are upgraded versions of stools, but not all chairs are the same. Chairs have many grades. Among them, the plush chair is a very solemn chair. When guests come, they need to go to the main room to receive and use this chair.

Li Wan was originally in charge of Jia's affairs for Wang Xifeng. At that time, they were custodians, and their seats were generally different when doing things. The chair they made at this time is a round back chair. Because their identities have changed at this time, the objects used should be replaced accordingly.

According to different places, uses and people's status and status, the chairs and stools in the Red Cross dream are different. The round-backed chair in Rongtang, the upper seat for offering sacrifices to pine, the plush chair in Jia Zhengfang, the rose of Daiyu in Xiaoxiang Pavilion, the painted chair carved by You's family, the spring stool in Xifeng's room, and the bench in the main room. In any case, there will be benches and chairs in every place.

Generally speaking, people don't pay special attention to stools and chairs in their daily lives, because as long as they can sit, but in a big family like Jia's, many things are not so simple, and stools and chairs can't sit casually, because if they accidentally sit wrong, they won't be laughed at and punished. This is why when Dai Yu first entered Jia Fu, she was "afraid to say a word". Stools and chairs are only a few square inches, but they show different seating cultures.